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Dillingham's Timmerman goes for gold at NYO

April 27th 2:44 pm | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

When Rae Rae Timmerman got into a 4-wheeler accident last fall she injured her back so bad that she had to see a doctor and undergo weeks of physical therapy.

Those were tough times and when she got down, it was the Native Youth Olympics that picked her back up.

Timmerman, a junior at Dillingham High School, is somewhat of a star at the NYO Games, where she is a two-time champion in the Eskimo stick pull.

She is eager to return to action and used this week's NYO state meet as motivation to work herself back into shape.

"I'm a lot better, just working on getting bigger muscles and keeping focused," said Timmerman, who originally thought the back injury might jeopardize her career.

"I've been doing all the exercises they told me and it doesn't hurt anymore. Praying it is better and I get to do what I want to do."

The 42nd annual NYO Games run Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage.

Timmerman has been competing for only the last three years after Dillingham coach Karl Clark convinced her to give the Native Games a try. She's been hooked ever since.

"It keeps me out of trouble," she said with a laugh. "I really enjoy doing it."

Clark didn't hesitate in appointing Timmerman the best girls puller in team history.

"She's probably the best we've ever had," he said. "We've had some good ones, but no one has won two titles in three years."

Her success should come as no surprise as Timmerman is a successful wrestler. In middle school, she won 19 of 20 matches, most of them against boys.

"My only loss came to a kid who was like 40 pounds heavier than me," she said.

In eighth grade, she was introduced to the Eskimo stick pull.

She won the NYO title that first year and it changed her life.

"I didn't think I would be very good," Timmerman said.

Most people assume the Eskimo stick pull is all power, but Timmerman said technique is just as important as toughness.

Good thing she possess both attributes.

"She's way tough," Clark said. "We actually have no girls here who can pull against her so we line up the boys and let her pull away."

Timmerman's durability was on display at the Arctic Winter Games in March when she pulled a muscle in her back but still managed to win the bronze medal.

"She's been back in the weight room getting strong again," Clark said.

Reach Van Williams at sports@reportalaska.com.

 

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